Pitt holds on for victory

Panthers survive Virginia rally for best start since ’09.

Nate Peterman threw for 222 yards and two touchdowns, Qadree Ollison added one on the ground and host Pittsburgh held off Virginia 26-19 on Saturday.

The Panthers are 4-1 for the first time since 2009 and 2-0 in the ACC after surviving a late scare from the Cavaliers (1-4, 0-1).

Virginia had the ball with a chance to tie it in the final seconds but Matt Johns’ fourth-down pass to T.J. Thorpe sailed wide.

Johns completed 17 of 33 for 209 yards and a touchdown with an interception. The Cavaliers have dropped 12 straight road games since 2012.

Pitt appeared on the verge of an early blowoutm racing to a quick 17-3 lead. Peterman hit tight end Scott Orndoff for a 37-yard touchdown pass on game’s fifth play, Chris James ripped off a 48-yard sprint to set up a 4-yard scoring run by Ollison later in the first quarter.

But the Cavaliers rallied and pulled within 26-19 when Johns found Canaan Severin for a 32-yard touchdown with 5:50 to play. With one last shot, Virginia converted a fourth-and-25 and moved to the Pitt 42 with a minute to go. Four straight incompletions, however, ended the Cavaliers’ upset hopes.

Wake Forest 3, Boston College 0: Mike Weaver kicked a 25-yard field goal for the only points as the visiting Demon Deacons (3-3, 1-2) edged the Eagles (3-3, 0-3), who bungled an opportunity to win in the last seconds.

Boston College had first-and-goal at the 1 with 29 seconds left shortly after Wake Forest quarterback John Wolford fumbled with 56 seconds to play. Boston College’s Tyler Rouse ran for no gain, and Jeff Smith spiked the ball as the clock hit :00.

After a replay review, the referee confirmed the game was over.

South Florida 45, Syracuse 24: Marlon Mack rushed 179 yards and a pair of second-half touchdowns as the host Bulls (2-3) ended a three-game losing streaking by rolling past the Orange (3-2).

Mack scored on bursts of 25 and 45 yards, while averaging 8.5 yards per carry. Quinton Flowers threw for a season-best 259 yards and two TDs.

Duke 44, Army 3: Thomas Sirk threw for 197 yards and one touchdown, and Jela Duncan and Parker Boehme each scored twice as the visiting Blue Devils (5-1) routed the Black Knights (1-5).

Duke’s defense held the Army option in check, limiting the Black Knights to 44 yards rushing on 26 carries in the decisive first half and 113 for game on 49 attempts.

Late Friday: Brenden Motley and Isaiah Ford teamed for three second-quarter TD passes as Virginia Tech (3-1, 1-1) defeated North Carolina State (4-2, 0-2) 28-13.